Chapter 24: Number One in the World [24] Part 1

At nine in the morning, Shu Heng reluctantly bid farewell to her older sister at the airport. After completing the send-off, she still lingered at the airport, waiting eagerly for the plane to take off, before finally getting into a car and returning to the villa.

However, upon seeing the thick stack of materials in the study, Shu Heng quickly lost any desire to feel sentimental. She grabbed her keyboard and began preparing for the re-examination.

Becoming Professor Gong Li’s student was no easy feat. Even with her sister’s help in making the introduction, she needed to demonstrate rock-solid abilities!

Otherwise, if Wang Yuanfei found out about this, he would definitely use it to attack her sister!

Shu Heng brimmed with fighting spirit. Even when heading to Zhizhu Technology’s headquarters for part-time work, she brought her materials along and occasionally asked the seniors in her group about parts she didn’t understand.

After learning that Shu Heng was highly likely to become Professor Gong Li’s final disciple, the seniors grew extremely enthusiastic. They held nothing back, eager to cram everything they knew into her.

Professor Gong Li was one of the professors they respected the most. By helping Shu Heng resolve her doubts now, perhaps one day she could pass along their questions to Professor Gong Li!

Rounding it all off, they could consider themselves half a student of Professor Gong Li!

–

Under deliberate indulgence from all sides, the first-instance verdict in the Patent Infringement Case created no real impact on Rhythmic Short Video. The platform’s hottest discussions remained those related to Li Jianwei.

Given enough time, this distorted version of the truth was bound to stick in people’s minds. In the future, whenever anyone talked about Li Jianwei, this baseless smear would remain firmly attached to her name.

Wang Yuanfei felt smug about it, convinced that his simple and crude method was effective, leaving Li Jianwei at a loss for words.

But his glee didn’t last long. With the Two Sessions underway, Wang Yuanfei was caught completely off guard when officials flashed their badges and invited him to have tea.

Moreover, these weren’t from ordinary departments—they came from special agencies tied to national security.

At a time like this, smearing an entrepreneur and committee member who had made major contributions to the nation led the security department to reasonably suspect that Wang Yuanfei had been bought off by foreign capital and was deliberately causing trouble.

They hadn’t known until they investigated, but the probe revealed Wang Yuanfei’s ties to the patent infringement case and his recent frequent contacts with foreign companies. What started as a questioning turned into detention and a full-scale investigation.

After Wang Yuanfei got into trouble, Photon Dynamics’ former vice president, Executive Chen, seized the opportunity to temporarily assume the role of president.

His political instincts were sharp, and he understood the gravity of being taken away by the security department. Right after stepping into the position, he released pre-prepared clarification videos and ordered the marketing accounts to delete their videos and issue apologies—or face immediate bans. His actions were swift and decisive.

【Dazed and confused—how did public opinion flip so fast? Weren’t they ripping into President Li yesterday for all sorts of things? How is Photon Dynamics already on their knees apologizing this morning?】

【Insider scoop: Wang Yuanfei got hauled away for investigation yesterday. The charges sound pretty serious.】

【So President Li really was slandered, huh? Only morons would buy that idiotic leak.】

【Police announced they’re opening a case. Those marketing accounts know they’re toast, so they scrubbed the videos and apologized in a flash.】

【Keep barking, mutts? Where are all those foaming-at-the-mouth types who swore President Li was no good? I say the authorities should round up everyone spewing crap in the comments too—they’re slandering President Li!】

Beneath the clarification video, the original videos had been throttled, and the netizens who had been hounded and cursed by brainless males finally had a place to vent. In just minutes, the comments surpassed ten thousand, a clear sign of how frustrated they had been by the prior suppression and throttling.

“Executive Chen, Zhizhu Technology is speaking out for those banned and silenced students. They’re demanding the platform compensate them and hold the marketing accounts legally accountable.” The assistant hurried over with the report.

Ever since Wang Yuanfei had been taken away by the security department, one crisis after another had erupted. Everyone at headquarters cleaning up the mess was frazzled beyond belief.

“No wiggle room on the marketing accounts?” Executive Chen, now acting president, asked. “I’ve already made them delete the videos and apologize right away. If that’s not enough, they can go on camera too.”

The assistant shook his head. “They’ve got a airtight chain of evidence. To save the marketing accounts, we’d have to settle privately with cash. If the company foots the bill, it confirms malicious rumor-spreading, and exposure would tank the stock hard. Going off-books means paying out of pocket.”

Upon hearing it would cost him personally, Executive Chen made his decision on the spot. “Then cut the marketing accounts loose from the company entirely. They were funded by Wang Yuanfei personally to smear Li Jianwei—nothing to do with Photon Dynamics.”

“Any illegal hype was Wang Yuanfei acting behind the backs of senior management and the board. We can’t let his actions drag the company down.”

“Hold a press conference tomorrow to completely sever Wang Yuanfei from Photon Dynamics. Today, I’ll apply to convene the board and remove him as president!”

Recalling how Wang Yuanfei had once berated him to his face like a lowly servant, Executive Chen grew more agitated as he spoke. He wasted no time kicking the man while he was down.

Not to mention, this was a golden opportunity for Executive Chen to rise. Even if the chairman wanted to push his illegitimate son into the role, it would take time for the man to get up to speed on the business.

This window was his chance to claim the presidency and line his pockets.

By rights, the assistant was Wang Yuanfei’s man and should have been lobbying hard on his behalf during the investigation.

But after witnessing too much of Wang Yuanfei’s brainless behavior, the assistant had long since secretly switched allegiances, with Executive Chen as one of his targets.

So when he heard Executive Chen plotting to shove his former boss into the fire pit, the assistant wasted no words and rushed off to carry out the orders.

–

Shu Heng, fully focused on preparing for her re-examination, paid little attention to outside news. It wasn’t until Wang Yuanfei was forced to resign in disgrace that she learned he had been taken away by the authorities for investigation—and hadn’t been released even after three days.

“Sister Qin, will Wang Yuanfei go to jail?” Shu Heng asked, her face full of eager anticipation.

Sister Qin nodded. “Very likely. President Li won’t let him off easily. Unless he pulls off something major, he’ll be detained for a while at least.”

“Photon Dynamics’ stock has dropped for three straight days now. Without a credible statement by the weekend, a limit-down open on Monday isn’t out of the question.”

Shu Heng didn’t know much about finance, but she understood the devastation a limit down could wreak on a listed company.

Imagining Wang Yuanfei paying a steep price—perhaps never recovering—left Shu Heng feeling utterly delighted. She felt she could study straight through until midnight!

Of course, in reality, that was tough for her. Every evening at eight, she had her fixed video call with Li Jianwei. After chatting for half an hour or so, they would each wash up and go to sleep.

“Sister, I missed you so much today too.” Shu Heng sent a voice message via her phone, then hugged the quilt and rolled around on the bed. She only stopped when she reached her sister’s usual spot.

It was the fourth night sleeping alone. The quilt and pillow still carried her sister’s scent, though it had faded quite a bit.

Wuwu, she missed her sister so much. Why couldn’t the next four days just fly by in a flash?

Shu Heng swung between joy and sorrow before finally half-burying her face in the pillow. Inhaling the lingering fragrance, she drifted off to sleep.

–

“These were purely commercial contacts. I wanted to break into overseas markets, so I sent people to scout.” Wang Yuanfei was unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes and an overall haggard look that diminished his once-handsome features.

“You granted them extensive internal access. What kind of scouting requires taking user data along?” The interrogator was utterly serious, his stern expression and merciless tone delivering full psychological pressure.

“That was their requirement—for a deep dive before further cooperation.” Wang Yuanfei stuck to his guns that it was purely business. His real intent had been to attract foreign investment and expand the market; he had no plans to engage in espionage!

The interrogator pressed: “Rhythmic Short Video has over 100 million registered users, and you tried to take that information abroad. Is that true?”

Wang Yuanfei refused to budge. “No. I just sorted them by age, region, and preferences—a simple hobby survey to enable precise targeting.”

“In data processing, Photon Dynamics has deep collaboration with Zhizhu Technology. Their tech staff can easily access all our internal materials!”

As he spoke, Wang Yuanfei’s eyes lit up, as if he had found a lifeline. He hurriedly shifted the blame to Zhizhu Technology.

“Platform user privacy protection is also provided by Zhizhu Technology’s tech support! Without cracking their systems, no one can access the core user data.”

“If Photon Dynamics leaked user privacy to foreign entities, then Zhizhu Technology must have people involved too!”

“Anything else to add?” The interrogator typed rapidly, recording the statement.

“Can I request to see my lawyer?” Wang Yuanfei tried to struggle. “I want to know why I can’t leave.”

“Yes, we’ll pass along your request and inform you of the outcome.” The interrogator maintained a strictly procedural tone.

While Wang Yuanfei endured relentless questioning, Li Jianwei was meeting with a certain minister during a conference break.

“We have all your contributions to the nation and the people etched in our hearts. You’re so much like your mother, Lady Li. If she could see this moment, she’d be overjoyed.” The minister sighed, then swiftly changed the subject.

“Your father should be abroad sketching, right? Do you need us to secretly bring him back?”

“My dad is a very pure soul. He’s either dreaming up little surprises for Mom or lost in his own world, pursuing breakthroughs and discoveries in art.”

Li Jianwei smiled. “Lately, he’s collaborating with a renowned overseas oil painter. Once they finish, the works should exhibit both domestically and abroad.”